· by Michael Blair, Nashville's Tree Service
Trees that come down in Middle Tennessee storms have usually been failing for years. Storms are the trigger rather than the cause, and most of the underlying weakness is visible from the ground.
What does the base of a failing tree show?
Mushrooms or conks growing at the base or on exposed roots indicate internal decay — the fungus fruiting is a symptom of what is already inside the wood.
Soil heaving or cracking on one side, or a visible gap where roots meet ground, means the root plate is moving. That is the most urgent sign there is.
Then the trunk and unions
Cavities, deep vertical cracks and areas of missing bark all reduce structural capacity. A trunk that has bulged or flattened on one side is often compensating for internal decay.
Co-dominant stems — two trunks of similar size meeting in a tight V with bark trapped in the union — are a classic failure point in storms.
- Fungal conks at the base or on roots
- Heaving or cracked soil on one side
- Deep vertical trunk cracks or cavities
- Tight V-shaped unions with included bark
- Large dead limbs in the canopy
- A lean that has changed recently
What does the canopy say about a tree’s health?
Progressive dieback from the top down, leaves smaller or sparser than neighboring trees of the same species, and out-of-season color all indicate stress.
A tree with a thin canopy is not necessarily dangerous, but it is a tree worth watching, particularly if it sits within falling distance of the house.
Leaning trees
A long-standing lean with normal soil around the base is usually fine — trees grow to compensate. A new or increasing lean is entirely different.
Photograph leaning trees against a fixed reference so you can tell later whether anything has changed. Impressions are unreliable across seasons.
FAQ
Signs a Tree Is About to Come Down — questions
Does a leaning tree need to come down?
Not necessarily. A tree that has leaned for years with undisturbed soil at the base has usually grown reaction wood to compensate. A lean that is new, increasing, or accompanied by soil cracking or heaving on the opposite side is a different matter and warrants prompt assessment.
Are mushrooms at the base of a tree serious?
Often, yes. Fungal fruiting bodies at the base or on buttress roots generally indicate decay already established in the wood, and root or butt rot compromises exactly the part of the tree that resists overturning. It is one of the more reliable indicators that an arborist should look at it.
Who is liable if my tree falls on a neighbor’s house?
Generally, liability turns on whether you knew or should have known the tree was hazardous. A healthy tree brought down by a storm is usually treated as an act of nature; a visibly dying or decayed tree you were aware of is a different situation. Documented arborist assessments matter here.
What is the most urgent sign a tree may fall?
Soil heaving or cracking on one side of the trunk, or a gap opening where the roots meet the ground. Either one means the root plate itself is moving, which puts it ahead of every other warning sign. A lean that is new or getting worse alongside that soil movement calls for an arborist right away.